Lionel Messi to sign new Barca contract on Thursday

Updated: 05 February 2013 19:53 IST

The club said in December the four-time World Player of the Year would extend his current deal, which runs until 2016, along with teammates Xavi Hernandez and Carles Puyol who have already put pen to paper on their new contracts.

Written by Agence-France Presse

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Madrid:

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi will sign a new contract on Thursday tying him to the Catalan club until 2018.

"Leo Messi will be the next player to sign a new contract following captains Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernandez," Barcelona said in an online statement.

"The striker will sign his new contract on Thursday that will tie him to Barcelona until June 30, 2018."

The club said in December the four-time World Player of the Year would extend his current deal, which runs until 2016, along with teammates Xavi Hernandez and Carles Puyol who have already put pen to paper on their new contracts.

Messi has again been fundamental as Barca have built up a nine-point advantage at the top of the Spanish league.

The Argentine has scored 34 times in 22 league appearances this season and has found the net in each of his last 12 outings, breaking an all-time Spanish league record.